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Columbia, Mo. ­— After the Georgia at Mizzou football game last weekend, University of Missouri Police Department officers received several reports of fraudulent tickets. When compared side-by-side, the fake tickets are nearly identical to real tickets, MUPD Captain Brian Weimer said.

To ensure that individuals have purchased a real ticket, Weimer recommends that people only buy through the Mizzou ticket office or online through mutigers.com. Weimer suggests avoiding online auction sites or buying tickets from strangers.

“These fake tickets look as real as any produced by Mizzou,” Weimer said. “The fake tickets even had the correct disclaimers on the back sides. It’s also possible that the individual selling the ticket does not know it is fake. He or she might have bought the fake ticket and is trying to turn it around for a quick profit along with legitimate tickets. Unfortunately, the victim might not realize it’s a fake ticket until it’s scanned for entry into the game.”

At the Georgia game, ticket scanners recorded more than 400 “missed scans,” which could indicate fraudulent tickets.

Patrons assume all risks for tickets purchased through sources other than the Mizzou Athletics Ticket Office. More information about tickets is available at at mutigers.com.